Lufthansa is a shit airline

Also see the saga of Berlin Brandenburg airport. I remember being amused at how many times I would book a flight going there only for it to be moved because they couldn't get the airport finished and opened.

[quote]Anyeone who belives in "German efficiency" will be quickly disabused.

If you want to see inefficiency, try Air France.

Somehow, I’m not sure you’ve ever flown Lufthansa, OP.

Am I correct?

If not, please regale us with your recent, personal experiences.

TIA.

Air Cuntada

I've flown Austrian Airlines, a part of the Lufthansa Group. A fucking nightmare.

Did their stewardesses wear black gloves in the early 90s, or was it Finn Air? Whichever it was I thought there were coming to murder

Sad that these great European national carriers that had such a reputation for excellence have become just as crappy as American carriers. Guess the only carriers left that give a damn are Asian.

^ or Arabic

I like Lufthansa. They keep the cabin cool and if you complain, they offer you a blanket. I only fly them internationally and I find their meal service lackluster, but their approach to beverages is good: serve yourself. I do not feel unsafe flying Lufthansa like I do flying Iberia or Turkish. Something about these two unsettles me.

They were better as the Luftwaffe.

I rather doubt that OP has flown on anything other than Spirit.

I liked my Austrian Air flights. Departed and arrived on time, polite flight attendants, free drinks for everyone (not just business class). And they give you chocolate!

I'll take the Euros over the big hoss soccer Mom flight attendants on US carriers any day of the week.

Of the Lufthansa Group carriers: 1) Swiss, 2) LH, 3) Austrian, 4) Eurowings, 5) Brussels.

HON Circle is the best top level frequent flyer program in the world.

R14 is correct. The Swiss first Lounge in Zurich and the Senator lounge in Frankfurt are excellent, and Lufthansa started the trend of car drop-off at the plane for their top tier frequent flyers. I'd use them if they weren't partnered with terrible United.

JoeyLufthansa!

Um R12 most airlines give free drinks to everyone on international flights irrespective of class - just not airlines from the USA.

R17 Delta does this. They are the largest US carrier.

I fly on European airlines, not from principal but geographic practicality. Lufthansa is not an airline I favor or avoid. It's reasonably good, like most of the larger European airlines. For European or transatlantic flights, I've never had a problem or been unhappy with any service within the Lufthansa Group of airlines, the same as I can say for the rest.

It doesn't distinguish itself in any way. But it doesn't seem unsafer or less efficient than the rest. I might prefer the cabin service in other airlines, but to the point that it's worth a longer or less convenient flight time or a significantly higher cost? No.

Unless someone flies often among a large group of airlines, statements like OP's too often come down to one-off impressions and feelings weighed against some faded dream based on old, now yellowed, TWA posters of elegance in the air.

Flying is safe, it's not especially elegant or delightful.

[quote]Sad that these great European national carriers that had such a reputation for excellence have become just as crappy as American carriers. Guess the only carriers left that give a damn are Asian.

It's called liberalism. They don't believe in "the customer is always right." In fact, they don't give a fuck about customer service nor showing respect, because liberals are all about defying convention.

Notice how Asia (which remains predominantly conservative) still offers excellent service? It's no coincidence.

Liberals, especially the wokes, are bringing down Western civilization with all their decadence and defiance of authority and tradition.

You're blaming Americans, but it is Europeans who are predominantly liberal and who have influenced their American counterparts (i.e., Democrats).

That's why conservatives (i.e., Republicans) want to keep that shit out and are trying to salvage the America we have known and loved.

The quality of their flights is reliably good, but getting on the plane is another story! The absolute worst employees (at least here in Germany) are the non-Germans…absolute bastards. They tend to be inflexible and unhelpful, so I don’t even bother dealing with them. Always go to the German and let them know how unhelpful their colleague was.

That's an interesting analysis, R20, and you may be on to something.

R21: Funny, living in DE myself, I always find I get the most done when interacting with the non-Germans, for they weren't brought up in the Prussian school system. You can get away with things with non-Germans, whereas the natives are sticklers for rules and so weary of doing anything, possibly, wrong,

Personally, I find AirFrance, KLM, and Lufthansa all a bit of the same bleh. Not horrible, not great either. At least the Dutch stewardesses (sturdy broads) have a sense of humour. The Germans, of course, tend to be patronising.

Republicans are looting America R20. They are not the people offering "customer service" in America. Or Asia.

Jesus Christ r20 is a off-base cunt. Blocked.

And to prove it: some of the best service I had was on British Airways with their super-unionized vetean crew that they got rid of during COVID. It's been shit since and I dropped them after decades of loyalty.

Well, I flew on Lufthansa 747s in the 70s (and 80s and 90s) along with KLM, the former to Frankfurt, the latter to Amsterdam. I thought both airlines were terrific!

R20, I would say that 1/06/21 proved that Republicans are not averse to defying authority and eschewing tradition. Banning library books and overthrowing what was considered settled law? Yeah, that's pretty much defying tradition. Refusing to obey Congressional subpoenas? Definitely defying authority!

As for "decadence," you really do not want to compare the two Parties re, say, crimes against children. And if you think most decadent billionaires are Liberals, I've got a Tesla to sell you.

But you're probably a White guy, so the past seems like halcyon days.

The two scariest landings of my life were on Lufthansa landing in Newark.

A look at their posts substantiates my hypothesis that blocking R20 brings a quality gain to my Datalounge Experience®.

I love how this thread is almost all about airlines as opposed to wider questions about German efficiency.

Dutchie is a fucking idiot.

Ever fly on Belgium’s national airline SABENA? Nothing but po-faced contempt for their passengers.

I opened the overhead bin and Anne Frank rolled out.

Sabena hasn't existed since 2001, grandpa.

r33 failed wit.

I recently purchased a flight from Lufthansa & even though the initial cost was higher, they allow you some flexibility/perks with a standard ticket. United acts as if the starting point is being stuck in the bulkhead & nickel & dime you for any upgrades (pay an extra $100 to sit by the overflowing shitter or a 300 lb man - your choice, your way!). Also, they don't seem to be continually forcing a credit card down your throat.

The seventies were a golden age of air travel.

Lufthansa offers complimentary beer and wine in economy but not complimentary cocktails. They’ve also eliminated the nice touches like coming around with Bailey’s or Kahlua during the post-dinner coffee service. The food is definitely not as good as it was ten years ago and their in-flight entertainment system is dated. If you manage an upgrade to business class, you’re seated next to someone with no privacy dividers, so it’s like domestic first class. I still think the service from the flight attendants is very good, however. But overall they haven’t kept up.

Thank you for bringing your stupid political ideas into a thread about airlines, r20. Your complaining about the “liberals” being responsible for any problem is very revealing of your mindset. Some people need a scapegoat. Just change the label and you’re good .

Last summer, Lufthansa started a direct flight from St. Louis to Frankfurt.

The flight has been a stunning success with incredible load factors. People here in flyover land can now avoid the domestic shit shows at O'Hare, Newark, Philly and Kennedy and the European shit shows in London and Paris by flying into directly Frankfurt and then transferring in Frankfurt to their final destination.

They cannot be worse than BA. I cannot believe it’s the same airline from 20 years ago. VA is so much nicer.

I just returned from Europe Wednesday- I was on a gay cruise 🚢- I started a thread about that. I flew British Airways- the stewardesses were very nice overall- some were VERY pretty- Hubba hubba- I’m still a gay male don’t worry.

What do dataloungers think of BA?

R18- Wrong.

American Airlines is the largest U.S. carrier. I flew to Europe on AA 13 days ago to Rome . The stewardesses were ok but the food in business class was surprisingly good.

We're holding your relatives in Germany, OP.

R20 knows nothing about the airline business. Asian and Middle Eastern airlines are highly subsidized by their respective governments. European airlines once were but are no longer.

The levels of service have nothing to do with political leanings, just dollars and cents.

Delta definitely holds the title of most shitty airline. At least the one flight from US to Spain.

I regularly fly between Europe and the U.S. The absolute shittiest airline is Air Canada, followed by KLM and United.

Lufthansa is decent…mainly because you don’t have to be in business class to enjoy free alcoholic beverages.

What about TAM (Brazil) and LOT (Poland)?

Yes, r32, once. I forgot to reconfirm in Brussels, so was placed on Stand-by. Thinking it was maybe a bad omen, I suggested to my (now late) husband that we should at least then eat our Godiva chocolates. Just in case. So we did, a pound each.

We later got onto a plane for a nice uneventful flight home. Ha!

R26 again! R42, I've flown BA into/out of Heathrow several times. I just remember the convenient airport tram.

After a spate of DC-10 crashes, I swore never to fly on that craft; I stuck with 747s, and that was for about a dozen trips to Europe.

On one of those trips, however, I was chaperoning a student tour group to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. And there, awaiting us for our return trip, was the now-infamous 3-engine configuration. Oh, CRAP!

That flight was my best ever---smooth as glass. 👍🛩

r13 Do the Europeans have weight restrictions for stewardesses? And when did the US start allowing hippos to work as stewardesses? I've seen huge ones that seem to be a fire hazard because the completely block the aisle with their massive girth.

From what I’ve heard and read online, Lufthansa First is one of the best in the business. Frequent fliers speak highly of it. British Airways First is commonly referred to as the best Business Class in the world, an insult.

Can confirm on the latter, R2.

I don't what R20 wrote but I've had it blocked for awhile apparently. Deplorable troll?

^^^I don't know..

Economy Class Macht Frei

[quote]Also, they [Lufthansa] don't seem to be continually forcing a credit card down your throat.

Yes, R36, it's terrible that so many airlines have tried to move away from accepting personal cheques on the plane for changes in class/service and those small extras over and above. Just terrible, I tell you.

And not even good-as-gold travellers' cheques!

[quote]Also, they [Lufthansa] don't seem to be continually forcing a credit card down your throat.

They leave that to their heinous Star Alliance partner United.

Yeah such a good airline. So....competent

Thank 9/11 for the decline in service. That's when airline jobs went from being service jobs to security jobs and the flying experience became a fucking nightmare.

[immediately logs into Lufthansa to book a flight]

Whenever I flew Lufthansa, there was always an older, very stern, corn fed stewardess who looked like she threw shot put for the East German national team in the late '80s.

I only fly Lufthansa in First. I have no idea what chicanery goes on beyond the curtain.

[quote]And when did the US start allowing hippos to work as stewardesses? I've seen huge ones that seem to be a fire hazard because the completely block the aisle with their massive girth.

The US airline industry is entirely based on seniority. So in general…the oldest, largest, and most jaded flight attendants get the best routes because of their seniority. These are often the international flights, because they only have to do a couple flights a month with that schedule.

I booked an award ticket – first class round-trip to Munich – with United points back when I used to fly them. It was United there with a stop at IAD and Lufthansa nonstop back. The United service was absolute shit. Broken IFE system, inedible food, and surly, old FA fraus who spilled wine on my arm and dropped a glass of orange juice on my shoes. The Lufthansa return flight was outstanding. Fresh, well prepared food service, impressive selection of wines, and unobtrusive but observant service.

After two consecutive disastrous experiences with United, I stopped flying them altogether. LAX is my home airport so I am fucked. United and American are really the only options here. Delta and SkyTeam are limited (and I loathe Air France and KLM) so it's either Star Alliance or oneworld. So I have been with oneworld/American for many years. But at least I had relatively good experiences on Lufthansa.

LAX is an Air France first route, and it's considered to be one of the best First classes in the world, along with ANA and Singapore.

R66 yes AF First is on an entirely different level. I think they only have 4 seats on most aircraft. If you’re flying out of CDG, you don’t have to look at any poors. Separate entrance and private chauffeur from the lounge to your flight.

Air France La Premiere is basically a private suite...

OP is a cheap whore, and he flew in coach and had a miserable flight on his first trip to Europe.

R51 I can tell you that it's not my fault at least. I used to recruit and interview flight attendant applicants for United airlines and I always did my best to hire the most attractive ones. If I found them repulsive I would just reject them for having low energy.

I was treated like a criminal by several Lufthansa employees on a single trip (both ways). I was like, "And this is supposed to be one of the best airlines in the world???" I called one a Nazi and he didn't like it.

No, R71, you didn’t call anyone a Nazi during the flight. You may have wished that you had afterwards.

I dream of European carriers while skimming the clouds on a United Express EMB-145. It’s like my own personal jet I’m sharing with 45 others.

R47 No EU or US airline charges for drinks in transatlantic economy

R74 I have flown FinnAir many times between HEL and JFK or DFW. They run out of alcohol in economy. Every. Single. Time. And it is not the Yanks who have drunk it all.

So what?

The Finns drink heavily when they travel.

During Soviet times, Finns would take the overnight train to Moscow and park themselves in the bar car to drink for the whole trip, about eight hours. The Finns then returned the same night to do it again on the way to Helsinki. Russians called it финская экскурсия, a Finnish excursion.

[quote] No, [R71], you didn’t call anyone a Nazi during the flight. You may have wished that you had afterwards.

True, it was at the gate while boarding. I was carrying both my passpoert and my husband's and he yelled at me in Deutsch. This was 30 years ago. I said, Fucking Nazi. He yelled some more. We boarded.

[quote]I called one a Nazi and he didn't like it.

"I an SVISS!!!"